Academy Award-nominated composer Philip Glass performed soulful compositions in front of a sold out crowd Monday at the Shaver Theatre. The performance was the first of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts’ two-night Performing Arts Series. The series’ second segment will feature a performance by the musical group So Percussion tonight at 8 p.m. “Philip Glass is someone our students and faculty can learn from,” said Laurence Kaptain, dean of the College of Music and Dramatic Arts. “He’s an inspiration and the perfect person to bring in for tonight’s performance.”Glass received Academy Award nominations for his original scores for the films, “Kundun,” “The Hours” and “Notes on a Scandal.” He won a Golden Globe for his work in “The Truman Show” and received a nomination for “The Hours.” His score in the film “The Illusionist” also received critical acclaim. “I don’t care about his scores,” said Daniel Heagney, second-year music graduate student. “He’s one of the most important composers alive, and I prefer his work on the entire Glassworks album.”Glass, a graduate from the University of Chicago and the Julliard School, also studied music in Paris. His various compositions range from opera, dance, theater, chamber ensemble and orchestra. “He’s a very famous 20th century composer whom I admire because he’s been inspired by a lot of writers and poets,” said Sandra Robert, former president of the Symphony Volunteers of New Orleans. Glass performed original compositions for solo piano, organ and various instrumental combinations from some of his most famous works from 1976 to the present.  “He’s a legend,” said Beth Kleinpeter, photography senior. “I have a few of his CDs, and it was only $10. How could you miss it?”The Brooklyn-based quartet So Percussion will perform tonight in the second segment of the series. So Percussion received acclaim from Billboard Magazine and The New York Times, which have called the group “entrancing” and “brilliant” for its diverse and emotional use of percussion instruments. “The percussion group from New York will play three percussion pieces and will feature various audiovisual effects,” said Dawn Arevalo, business manager for the College of Music and Dramatic Arts. General admission tickets are $25. University faculty may purchase tickets for $15, and University students may purchase tickets for $10. The ticket office is located in room 102 of the Music and Dramatic Arts Building.–Contact Sabrina Trahan at [email protected]